Syllabus

Basic notions and definitions of nanosystems and nanotechnology. History of nanotechnology and nanosystems. Interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity. Examples of nano-objects and nanosystems, their peculiarities and technological applications. Objects and methods of nanotechnology. Principles and development prospects of nanotechnology.
(Prof. Yu. Tretyakov, Full member of RAS)

Peculiarities of nanoscale physical interactions. Role of volume and surface in physical properties of nano-sized objects. Mechanics of nano-objects. Mechanical oscillations and resonances in nano-sized systems. Force of friction. Coulomb interaction. Optics of nano-objects. Relation of wavelength of light and size of nanoparticles. Difference in light emission in homogeneous and nanostructured matters. Magnetism of nano-objects.
(Prof. A. Obraztsov)

Carbohydrates. Monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides. Peculiarities of their structure, display modes. Applicability potential of polysaccharides as nanobiomaterials. Lipids. Their classification and peculiarities of their structure. Nanostructures formed by lipids. Monolayers, micelles, liposomes. Their applicability potential for nanotechnology. Biomembranes. Peculiarities of their structure and main functions.
(Prof. A. Gladilin)

Current Issues in Nanotechnology.

The lecture deals with the current state and issues of fabrication of new materials for chemical sources of electrical energy: solid oxide fuel cells and lithium rechargeable batteries. It analyzes key and structure factors which affect properties of various inorganic compounds and determine their potential application as electrode materials: complex perovskites in solid oxide fuel cells and transition metal compounds (complex oxides and phosphates) in lithium rechargeable batteries. It considers main anode and cathode materials used in lithium rechargeable batteries and recognized as perspective ones: their advantages and restrictions; possible ways of overcoming the restrictions by directed change in atomic structure and microstructure of composite materials through nanopatterning in order to improve characteristics of sources of electrical energy.

The lecture discusses principles of molecular structure of viral nanoparticles. It considers nanotechnology related to the use of viral nanoparticles for fabrication of novel bioinorganic materials such as nanotubes, nanoconductors, nanoelectrodes, nanocontainers; for encapsidation of inorganic compounds, magnetic nanoparticles and inorganic nanocrystals with controlled size. The novel materials are fabricated through the interaction of regularly organized viral protein structures with metal-containing inorganic compounds. Viruses can be also used as nanocontainers for storage and targeted delivery of drugs and therapeutic genes to cells. The lecture also examines the potential of direct application of surface-modified viral nanosubstructures as nanoinstruments (e.g., in biocatalysis and for the synthesis of live and intrinsically safe vaccines.)

Biopolymers are proteins and nucleic acids structure and functions of which are objects of biology studies have the unique ability to self-assemble into complex specific associates such as polyenzyme and DNA-protein complexes, ribosomes and viruses. One of the strategic approach to the design of nanomaterials and nanodevices includes principles of self-assembly and molecular recognition of biological macromolecules. The lecture also considers the first examples of successful application of nanostructures obtained on the basis of self-assembling biological structures in nanobiotechnology and medicine.

Nanotechnology opens up new opportunities for application of biocatalysts. Quantum chemistry in research into elementary acts of protein catalysis. Biocatalysts can work in boiling water; nature of thermal stability of thermophilic microorganisms and the use of natural principles in nanobiotechnology. Magnetic nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles; ferromagnetic proteins and enzymes. Bioelectrocatalysis as a phenomenon of acceleration of electrode processes and their application in the development of nanobiosensors. Biocatalysis in power industry: biofuel elements. Bioelectrocatalysis: direct conversion of chemical energy into electricity. Biocatalysis and ecology: breakdown of superecotoxicants. Development of method of registration of antigen-antibody interactions using enzyme synthesis of polymer nanostructures. Research into possible registration of reaction products on nanoscale (using AFM.)

Various carbon materials (nano-, poly-, monocrystalline diamond, diamond-like amorphous carbon films) demonstrate that laser technology can be used for their synthesis and fabrication of nanostructures on the surface and in the volume of irradiated samples. Carbon nanomaterials can also be used as optical components of laser systems, for example, single-wall carbon nanotubes and materials based on them as new and high performance nonlinear optical components that make it possible to generate ultrashort laser pulses necessary to perform tasks of laser nanotechnology and many others.

Nanotechnology opens up a few new opportunities to influence living systems, for example, targeted delivery of bioactive substances to cells. Mitotechnology makes it possible to deliver necessary substances to cells with an accuracy of a few nanometers, i.e. to inner membrane of mitochondria. The method enables the development of drugs based on lipophilic cations. Such development and research into physical and chemical properties and bioactivity of these drugs have some unique traits.

Application areas of nanotechnology for development of radically new diagnostic methods and treatment of human diseases: using of nanomaterials for targeted delivery of drugs and therapeutic genes, visualization of pathomorphological structures, breaking biocompatibility barriers, design of medical nanorobots, etc.